Chasing Rainbows

11: Slippers

After finishing his load of work, Sungjae immediately went down the parking lot to get his car. He needed to go home as soon as he could, planning to watch Y6 TV as soon as possible. He even dismissed Secretary Kim an hour ago because, he's not sure why, but it seems the middle-aged man has been throwing him side glances and weird looks since earlier and he felt really uncomfortable with that.

When he drove past the security, his phone suddenly rang.

"Harabeoji," he answered through his hands-free device. "Oh, I just got out of the office. What? Dinner? I'm sorry I still have something to do at home— No." He sighed audibly when he realized he couldn't argue with his grandfather. "I'll be there in a moment," he ended the call and slammed his hands against the steering wheel.

Seems like he had to cancel his plan.

He arrived at the mansion after a couple of minutes drive. Two servants greeted him and offered him a change of slippers while the head butler escorted him to the dining room. "I also live here, you know," he said with a tone of sarcasm as he wriggled out of his jacket and threw it on the couch.

"Good evening, harabeoji— oh... Why I didn't know you have a guest," he scoffed as he rested his hands on his hips. "You're quite fast, Secretary Kim,"

The tall and slim man just stood up to bow at him. "I was summoned by the chairman here,"

"Sit down," The chairman told him and he did so. "You seem to like your place near Y6 a lot you don't even come home here,"

"Ani... It's just that it's more convenient staying there, harabeoji," Sungjae said, which was true. "I can easily go back and forth to Y6."

"Still, you get late for your meetings. Time is precious for other people as well. Bear that in mind next time."

Sungjae could just scowl at his secretary from across the table. He was shooting him deadly glares while at the back of his head, he has branded him a traitor. He was so sure his grandfather already knew about his mistakes like messing up with BTOB's schedule, approving Taeyeon's requests, and IU's sudden comeback, and to top it off, his current misunderstanding with Director Yoo.

"Eat up," the old man interrupted his thoughts. He nodded and started stabbing his food with his knife  his eyes never leaving his secretary, as if sending him a warning: Since you have stabbed me on my back, I'll stab you into pieces like this.

"Don't you like the food?" the Chairman pointed his dinner knife at his plate and he just smiled at him.

"I'm not feeling really well, harabeoji. I'm cutting my food so that I won't have indigestion later."

"Chew properly. Eat slowly. And eat on time. You'll really have indigestion if you keep on having bad eating habits." the old man told him. "No matter how busy you are, have time for a good meal. I heard you've skipped a lot and kept ordering fastfood recently."

This is it, Sungjae thought. He glared at the secretary across him. It has finally started. What else did he tell his grandfather?

"How's the food in the cafeteria?"

"Yeh?" he thought he heard the wrong question.

"You went there earlier, right?"

"Ah... Neh. The food was really warm and tasty. I was really hungry and couldn't wait anymore so—"

"Secretary Kim, make sure to always make him have his meal on time. Assign someone in the cafeteria to look after his meals. Make a list of the food he likes and those he doesn't. He doesn't look really well right now."